"If the work of the depth players has been important in minimizing the damage of Staal's absence, McDonagh's bounce-back has been critical," wrote The Post's Larry Brooks. "The defenseman has been assertive and disciplined in his reads while using his great skating ability both in carrying the puck out of the defensive zone and in getting back if initially beaten."

McDonagh had two assists in the win over the Capitals and had a good explanation for his strong play. "I had some good legs, and that's the key to my game is if I'm skating. I can use my legs to beat people up the ice or get it out of the zone effectively. I've just got to continue to play simple at times and when the time is right, jump up and try to create," he said, according to The Daily News' Pat Leonard.

As for Staal, a report said he could be back in two to three weeks. Brooks said there is no timetable for the blueliner, "though the Blueshirts are hopeful the defenseman might be back by early next month."

Here's NJ.com's daily aggregation of Rangers news from around the web:

• ESPNNewYork's Katie Strang handed out midseason grades to the Rangers, giving them a B-minus overall. "Although the Rangers are beginning to look like the team that grinded and gritted its way to the Eastern Conference finals last spring, we still haven't seen their best yet," she wrote. "But all hope is not lost, as it took a solid six weeks for the team to find their groove last season. The biggest question is whether the Rangers can re-assert their rugged, hard-nosed style of play that made them one of the toughest teams to beat last year. Even in a compressed schedule, there is still time."

• Newsday's Steve Zipay pointed out that 15 of the Rangers' final 24 games will take place on the road. They will also "11 of the final 24 games against teams currently out of the Eastern Conference playoffs."